MISSING THE POINT?

Jeez--sorry about leaving three posts in a row, but I wanted to post an answer to your second question: Why does the above post try to start the usual petty arguments that are starting to make this forum unbearable?? I have been on both the internet and on local bbs systems since the eighties (before the public "internet" proper ever existed). Discussions in fora such as these ALWAYS degenerate into petty arguments and insults. After several insulting posts, the posters generally start to apologize and try to find some common ground (this is the modern equivalent of "guilt"). Then the posts completely leave the realm of the original query, and they become private discussions between two or three users. For whatever reason, the combatant users tend to, for the most part, be the same three or four people. I think that these fora act as an outlet for their own, personal angers. Beyond the first five or ten follow-ups, these discussions are generally worthless. This is not intended to be an insult to anyone, including Audiogon, for whom I have the greatest respect.

Ben- If you like obscure stuff, you've got to check out Wire magazine. It's from the UK so some of the stuff they review is hard to find, but you will read about stuff that you are not going to see in the store (unless it's a good one like Amoeba in San Francisco) It's my main source for new music, and rarely am I disappointed with a purchase reccomended by them. They don't grade based on recording quality, but what a shame to miss out on something good because the recording isn't perfect. Some of the best stuff in my opinion is terribly recorded. If you don't mind list some of the more obscure stuff you mentioned. -Ryan

mr. campbell, i think you misperceive some on the posts on this thread, including my 1st one. (my second post was meant in good humor; i apologize to all it may have offended.) there are, to me, at least two definitions of "new music" in your original post. the first is music "new" to you in a genre with which you have familiarity. for example, i like music that may be variously labeled "folk/blues." sure, i check out new recordings by artists i know but spend a whole lot more time looking for new artists or new (to me) subsets of the genre (e.g., "roots" or "texas blues") . i also spend time looking for and listening to music completely new to me. some recent examples of this are "11,000 virgins, music of hidegard von bigen" or "voices of light, by richard einhorn"; both of these discs feature anonymous4 singing very different kinds of music. both types of "new music" expand my horizons and broaden my musical tastes. that, in my very personal view, is as important, indeed much more so, than the search for better interconnects. i should think it boring indeed to keep playing almost exclusively the same old stuff on every iteration of one's audio system. if that's your habit, then it's the equipment that counts, not the music. and that, mr. campbell, is what i see as "missing the point" of this hobby.

Cornfedboy we are in agreement. As the more obscure releases I would highly recommend Kingsbury Manx by Kingsbury Manx (City Slang)-not uncommercial also great indie pop/rock by The Delgado's titled The Great Eastern(Chemical Underground Records)-acoustic based electronica by Larmousse-Larmousse (City Slang)-the first two albums by God Speed You Black Emperor(Kranky)-post-rock instrumental stuff. More mainstream but too downbeat for some Coldplay-Parachutes,Badly Drawn Boy-a British Beck meets Todd Rungdren and Richard Ashcroft's solo album,the last two XTC's albums-older stuff the brilliant acoustic folk of Nick Drake as heard on the VW ad in the States.All of Steely Dan's releases,Todd Rundgren,etc etc etc. Regards, Ben

ben campbell.Thanks for starting this interesting thread.I think Kurtisjeffers describes very well the senario/direction of the dicussions. It's like cell phones.The etiquette of use takes time to develop. The proper use of when and where to use cell phones will catch on when the novelty wears off. Internet dicussion hopefully will follow. ooops am I off topic, sorry........cheers steve k